England boss Martin Johnson reckons the experience Quins players Danny Care, Nick Easter, Chris Robshaw and Ugo Monye have gained this summer will stand his men in good stead for the forth coming autumn internationals and beyond.

Care and Easter featured in the senior side’s Test matches with Argentina last month, while Monye finished as the top British & Irish Lions try scorer - including one in the third Test win in Durban last week.

All have been retained in this year’s Elite Player Squad, while Guinness Premiership player of the year Robshaw was dropped back down to the Saxons squad , having made his senior international debut in south America in June.

Johnson has been quick to assure those involved in the second string set-up - including David Strettle, Will Skinner and Jordan-Turner Hall - they have more than a fair chance of stepping up should they find form in the opening weeks of the coming campaign.

England were whitewashed by the southern hemisphere nations last year - excluding the Pacific Islands - but bounced back to finish a credible second in the Six Nations championship.

And Johnson believes the exposure to Test rugby a lot of his squad has had over the last six months means he expects results to improve.

“We’ve got a good blend of experience - particularly in the forwards - and have seen some good young players come through in the past year,” he said.

“We want to win games it is as simple as that and there is a good group of players coming together.

“Jordan Crane is pushing Nick Easter at number eight. Tom Croft, Ugo Monye and Ricki Flutey have been on a Lions tour, and Danny Care has played a lot of Test matches this year.

“Add to that the likes of Mike Tindall and Mark Cueto, and there is a good group of experienced and talented players there that mean we are going to be more competitive this year.”

And those involved in the Lions - in particular Monye - could bring more to the table than most.

“It is Ugo’s first season of Test match rugby. He had a tough autumn - as we all did - got injured, then came back and played pretty well, got no the Lions tour and played Test matches,” added Johnson.

“Croft and Flutey did the same. It has been fantastic for those guys. They’ve all learnt a great deal. I’m sure they’ll be better players for it and we’ll be a better squad for it.”